Pie package



G. s. FROST PIE PACKAGE March 28, 1933.

Filed Aug. 3, 1931 &\\\\\\\\ INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY J Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE S. FROST, OI BALD'WIIil', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NEW YORK PIE BAKING 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW- YORK PIE PACKAGE Application filed August 3, 1931. Serial 1T0. 554,931.

My invention relates to pie packages or put ups. I-Ieretofore, two general methods have been adopted for packages for individual pies; one method was to secure together two paper pie plates facing in opposite direc tions, the pie being placed in the" space between thetwo plates. One objection to this method of packing is that the pie is not visible to the purchaser unless holes are made in one of the plates, in which case only a small portion of the pie may be observed through the holes and the package is then not sanitary because dirt may reach the pie through the holes.

Another method was to place individual pies in envelopes made of transparent material such as glacine paperor cellophane. In this method the whole pie is visible through the container but as the envelope is very pliable there is no support or backing for the pie and the latter is often broken during handling.

The object of my present invention is to provide a package or put up forindividual pies which will protect the pies from breakage even thoughthey areroughly handled, which will entirely protect the pies from be ing contaminated, because the pies in the present case are entirely closed and sealedin a sanitary package; and to permit the entire top of the pies to be clearly seen from the exterior of the package so that purchasers may not only see what kind of pies is contained in each package but be able to also judge of its size, fullness, and quality.

All of these advantages are attained with the present invention and at the same time the presentdevice is inexpensive and presents a very pleasing and attractive package. Furthermore, the pies maybe placed into the packages and the latter may be sealed or closed without handling of the pies. Special machinery for making and applying the packages is not necessary to the application of my invention. A wire stitching machine such as may be found on the marketis readily adapted for closing the packages. Other advantages will be set forth in the following description of my invention.

. In the drawing forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a package containing my invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is an assembly elevation of the several members of the package. 7

The package includes a pie plate, which is preferably of the composition or compressed pul type, such as one made of paper stock or bre, since these are inexpensive, will protect the pies against breakage and are cheap enough to be discarded after a single use. I therefore prefer to employ a plate of this character although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myinvention to the use of particular materials except where they may be specifically mentioned in the claims.

The pie plate shown in the drawingis designated 1 and it consists of a bottom wall 2, the inclined wall 3 forming the pie chamber 4, and a flange 5, all of which are shown as circular in shape though they may be otherwise shaped if desired.

The flange 5 of the plate is shown as provided with a raised portion or bead'6 extending around the flange to stiffen the plate and! to co-operate in securing the parts of the package together. In Figure 2 I have shown an ordinary covered pie arranged in the plate and consisting of a bottom crust, a filler 8 and a top crust 9 with the usual rim 10 extending around the pie where the bottom and top crusts meet. The pie lies in the compartment 4 of the plate so that the bottom crust rests on the top wall 2 of the plate and the inclined wall 3 and the top crust extends upwardly within the flange 5, and part of this or flange 12 which is adapted to be attached to the plate flange. In the preferred form of my invention this flange 12 is provided with a raised bead 13 extending around the same to stiffen the flange, to facilitate its application to the plate flange, and to secure a more sanitary seal of the package.

The package may be and preferably is as sembled in the following manner. The pic is placed in the plate, occupying the compartment 4. The transparent sheet 11 usually circular and cut to the required size, is placed on top of the pie so that its outer por tion extends over the flange 5 of the plate.

lhe separate flange or annular member 12 is then placed on top of the member 11 and the plate flange so that the bead 6 of the plate flange nests in the head 13 of the separate flange, the outer portion of the blank 11 lying between them. The parts are then presented to a wire stapling or stitching machine (not shown) and staples 14 are driven through the flange of the plate, preferably at the bead 6, through the transparent sheet 11 and through the separate flange 12 preferably at the bead 13' and the staples are clenched, thereby securing the plate, transparent sheet and separate flange together around the enclosed pie. The staples 14 may be applied at intervals around the plate and I have found that from four to six staples equally spaced around the plate are sufficient for a twelve inch or fourteen inch pie package. The package is now completed. I

The pie is entirely enclosed and protected against contamination, so that it remains in sanitary condition up to the time the package is opened by the consumer, regardless of how much handling the package may be subjected to. The plate, being made of stiff or comparatively stifl' material, affords effective backing for the pie to prevent the latter from being bent and broken during handling. The

plate, in fact, stififens the entire package and contents. The covering sheet 11 being transparent, permits the entire top of the pie to be clearly viewed through it, so that a customer may determine the kind of pie contained in the package, the depth and size of the pie and the character or quality of the crust. This sheet being of tough material, the package and the pie may be inverted without injury to the pie or the package.

The parts are all clamped snugly around the flange of the plate so that dust cannot enter the package even though the staples 14 are arranged at intervals rather than being continuous around the package. As long as the flange member 12 is secured to the plate flange 5 at intervals the package remains dustproof.

The bead 6 on the plate flange and the cooperating or nesting head 13 on the flange member form a bight for the intervening por tion of the transparent sheet and prevent the latter from pulling out from between these members even if the package is inverted and the weight of the pie should come on the transparent sheet. These beads also stiffen the structure. The flange members 12 may be made from pulp stock like the plates so their cost will be low. In fact, they may be pressed from the same dies or moulds from which the plates are stamped.

If the top of the pie at any part extends above the plane of the plate flange, as often occurs through bulging of the crust during baking, the sheet 11 will bulge accordingly when the parts are assembled.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided a package for pies which affords ample protection to the pie to prevent breakage, which excludes dirt completely and which renders the .whole top of the pie visible while in the package, and which is inexpensive and is quickly applied.

While I have described my invention as used for pie packages, it will be apparent that the same may be used as a container for any other type of food product. The plate 1 may be made of various depths, according to the shape and proportions of any food product to be contained in the package.

Having described my invention, What I claim is:

1. A package for a food product comprising a plate having a compartment to receive a food product and having a flange around said plate, said flange having a head around the same, a sheet of transparent material adapted to cover the top of the food product and extending over said plate flange, an annular member or flange having a bead adapted to nest with the'bead of said plate flange, said annular member being ada ted to be secured to said plate flange with t e outer portion of said sheet clamped between said flanges, and means for securing said flanges together.

2. A package for a food product comprising a plate having a compartment to receive afood product, and having a flange around said plate, said flange having a head around the same, a sheet of transparent material adapted to cover the top of the food product and extending over said plate flange an annular member or flange having a bead extending around the same and adapted to nest with the bead on said plate flange, and staples passing through the beads of said flanges and said sheet to secure said members together.

3. A package for a food product comprising a plate of comparatively stifl material, and having a compartment to receive a food product, said plate having a flange around the same provided with a bead extending around the flange, a' sheet of pliable, transparent material adapted to cover the top of the food product and extending over said plate flange, an annular member or flange of relatively stiff material and provided with a bead extending around the same, said latter flange being adapted to be applied to the plate flange so that the beads of both of said flanges nest one within the other, and means for securing said flanges together with the outer portion of said transparent sheet clamped between the beads of said flanges.

Signed at the city, county, and State of New York, this 10th day of Jul 1931.

GEOR E S. FROST. 

